EUGENE, Ore. - University of Idaho senior Jeremy Klas, a native of Moscow, Idaho, finished sixth in the pole vault at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Oregon, while 400-meter hurdler Liga Velvere, another senior, captured 14th in her specialty.

Klas earns first-team All-American honors with his finish, while Velvere is a second-team selection.

"Klas was amazing today," Vandal Director of Track and Field Wayne Phipps said after Klas cleared 18 feet, 1/2 inch to break the previous Idaho record. "He knew it was important to clear on first attempts and he did exactly all that on all of his clearances.

"He worked so hard and improved so much over the course of the year."

Mississippi's Sam Kendricks won the event with a vault of 18-8 1/4.

Velvere, as she has throughout the championship series, drew the difficult outside lane.

"She got down early but she battled back really well in the last 100 meters," said Phipps after Velvere was timed in 59.28. "She was ranked 26th going into the first round of the NCAAs so to finish 14th and earn All-American status is an amazing accomplishment."

Stanford's Kori Carter won the race in 54.67.

Phipps said both competitors will be greatly missed.

"He is such a great kid - an awesome leader, awesome athlete and awesome person," Phipps said. "Liga has had an amazing career here at Idaho and it was great to see her cap it all with an All-American award."